Rusty Costanza/The Times-PicayuneSaid Tulane Coach Bob Toledo of this season's team: 'You are always concerned about what the atti´tude of the team is going to be like. ... The attitude is great, and I think it all started from the offseason program. They saw that we weren't going to give up on them.'

The past 11 months have not been easy for Tulane, especially the 12-week stretch from September to November.

The Green Wave lost enough quality players and games during that span to sour any collegiate athlete on the prospects of coming back for more.

But the Tulane players aren't in that number.

After a 2-10 season in which Tulane lost 17 players to season-ending injuries and eight consecutive games to close the season, the Green Wave appears to have forgotten about those misfortunes.

Coach Bob Toledo said the players reported for fall camp last week in good spirits, and their attitudes toward improving were apparent.

Toledo admitted he wasn't certain his players would return with such a positive outlook.

"You are always concerned about what the attitude of the team is going to be like," Toledo said. "So yeah, I was concerned about it, but obviously, we don't have that problem. The attitude is great, and I think it all started from the offseason program. They saw that we weren't going to give up on them."

Green Wave players said that while last season was a challenge unlike any they've faced, they quickly put it in their rearview mirrors.

The only time their losses were brought up was during an occasional motivational speech.

"Coming off a disappointing season, we wanted to go into the offseason with a completely different mind-set," junior cornerback Phillip Davis said. "We just wanted to change the attitude, and everybody has jumped on board to change the mind-set completely. Each person holds each person accountable, whether they're on offense or defense."

The Green Wave's fresh outlook started with strength and conditioning coach Derick Atchley, who whipped the players in better physical and mental shape in hopes of having them avoid injuries and mental lapses.

Toledo praised Atchley, saying Atchley is responsible for the players showing up bigger, faster and stronger than any of the three Green Wave teams Toledo has coached.

"That was key to give us that attitude," Toledo said. "They feel like they are bigger, they feel like they're stronger. They feel like they are faster. They feel like they're in better shape.

"Those things give them the confidence to say 'hey, we can do it.' We didn't have that attitude towards the end of last season, and that's one of the reasons we lost football games. So the attitude is really good right now, and it all started in the weight room and on that practice field."

That has been evident in each of the first five practices of fall camp.

Practices have been spirited, with plenty of competition and energy. In a workout Friday, senior receiver Jeremy Williams made a leaping catch over Davis for a long touchdown that sent the offense into frenzy. Sophomore quarterback Joe Kemp ran 50 yards to the end zone to congratulate Williams.

At Monday's practice, Davis got a little payback as he stretched up to pick off an attempted screen pass that drew praises from his teammates and coaches.

If this team is supposed to be in a bad mood, it isn't showing it.

Tulane players said they showed the same kinds of enthusiasm during offseason drills, in which Kemp and senior running back Andre Anderson helped gather players for running, weightlifting and 7-on-7 drills. The Green Wave had nearly perfect attendance for offseason workouts.

Most college programs have the same, but it usually takes more motivation for a squad coming off such a dismal season.

"It was tough, but we all just came together in the summer," senior safety Chinonso Echebelem said. "We had 70 guys here; we showed real commitment. That's what we wanted. It was different from previous years. It's just a different vibe out here."

• The Green Wave practiced in full gear for the first time in fall camp.

• Toledo said he has been impressed with freshman defensive tackle Shane Delery and freshmen receivers Devin Figaro and D.J. Banks. Toledo said he expects about half of his 24 freshmen to see action this season.